 The ancient pre-Columbian Inca city of Machupichu (which means "Old Peak" in Quechua -- Machu Pikchu) is located 44 miles northwest of Cusco in Peru at 7,970 feet of altitude. It was rediscovered by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham on July 24, 1911. The city was known to the locals who led him to the site.
It is believed that Machupichu was constructed around the year 1450. It remained as a secret and never found by the Spanish Conquistadores. Many historians and archeologists hypothesized that the lost city of the Incas was a spiritual center of the "virgins of the sun", and it was the birthplace of the royal Incas; others argue that machupichu was a royal retreat center.
The impressive Inca architecture is present on every wall of the citadel. Stones are cut, polished and perfectly aligned into majestic walls. It is unknown how the Incas managed to transport the gigantic blocks of stones to construct the citadel.
Machupichu is made of 140 constructions which include houses, parks, residences, sanctuaries and temples.
Facts:
In 1983 the ruins were designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
In 2007 Machupichu was designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
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